Powderkeg’s digital community allows professionals and businesses to
connect in new, unique ways, such as offering them the ability to
discover qualified talent and job opportunities in a highly curated
manner. Powderkeg will use the funds to increase value for its 10,000+
members by providing more access for professionals to connect with the
fastest-growing tech companies, most innovative products, and most
talented leaders in the middle of the country.

“What we really want to focus on now is creating more access to more
resources for professionals and company leaders,” said Powderkeg CEO,
Matt Hunckler. “Tech companies between the coasts face similar
challenges as those in Silicon Valley and New York, but how we solve
those problems is way different, which is why coastal products haven’t
solved them.”

For instance, one of the biggest pain points in non-coastal tech hubs is
that tech professionals are having a difficult time realizing their full
career potential. This was the top issue raised in Powderkeg’s 2018 U.S.
Tech Census, which surveyed more than 1,000 professionals in eight
emerging tech hubs such as Indianapolis, Denver, and Nashville. Closely
related, companies are having a difficult time attracting and retaining
tech talent.

“There’s so much growth primed to happen in markets like the The Rockies
and the Midwest,” said Clay Gordon, managing partner at Stout Street
Capital in Denver. “Powderkeg’s network makes it easier for
entrepreneurs in emerging tech hubs to get resources that have been out
of reach. Once these emerging hubs hit critical mass, we’ll see
explosive growth.”

“There’s an explosion of opportunity in tech between the coasts. The
problem is that it’s difficult to know how to capitalize on all that
opportunity. Which companies have the best cultures and coolest
products? Who are the visionaries to follow?” Hunckler said.

By making it easier for top talent and top companies to find each other,
Powderkeg sees immense potential for tech hubs between the coasts to
grow and scale much faster. After all, tech companies pay some of the
highest salaries and offer some of the most sought after benefits (flex
time, remote work policies, equity, and ownership plans). “People don’t
want just a job. They want something that excites them daily,” Hunckler
said.

Powderkeg has plenty of other plans on the horizon, too, such as:

Designing a talent-matching platform to connect professionals with
tech companies.

Launching an expanded round of the U.S. Tech Census, starting with
Indianapolis, Ind.

Creating an email digest of curated tech news specifically focused on
companies located between the coasts.

“We want to use our expanding data and reach to drive more human
interaction and more rewarding professional relationships,” Hunckler
said. “That vision has investors excited, particularly those who
recognize that non-coastal tech hubs have traditionally been
disadvantaged due to resource scarcity and disconnected tech ecosystems.”

“Powderkeg is changing the face of tech entrepreneurship outside of the
Valley,” said Scott McCorkle. “By creating a community of like-minded
founders and investors to share ideas and struggles, Powderkeg has
removed some long-standing barriers to building a tech business in a
non-coastal area.”

Powderkeg plans to share more information about this announcement at
their upcoming
pitch night this Thursday, Feb. 28 at The Vogue in Indianapolis. To
receive more information about Powderkeg’s newest email newsletter, The
Spark, visit www.powderkeg.com.

About Powderkeg

With more than 10,000 active members in cities across the middle of the
country, Powderkeg helps high-growth tech companies connect with the
resources they need to grow in scale in areas beyond the coasts. The
Member Platform connects tech professionals with a suite of resources to
help them make their next career moves through curated connections with
some of tech’s biggest players. For more information, visit Powderkeg.com.